Rustenburg - Three awaiting-trial prisoners accused of indecently assaulting a 24-year-old inmate in police holding cells appeared in Mmabatho magistrate's court on Wednesday, said North West police.

Captain Mabel Mosidi said Daniel Seleke, Victor Ramorokwane and Victor Motwe appeared on charges of indecent assault. The case was postponed to April 26.

They are accused of sodomising another inmate repeatedly between 23:00 on Sunday and 06:00 on Monday in the Mafikeng police cells.

Two of the accused had been arrested in connection with armed robbery and the third in connection with robbery.

Sodomy judgment pending

Mosidi said the three had ordered their victim to undress and, when he refused, cut his chest with a razor blade. They then took turns to sodomise him.

He was taken to Mafikeng Provincial Hospital.

In July last year, Pretoria High Court ruled that the common-law definition of rape was unconstitutional and ordered it to be extended to include sodomy.

The judgment was referred to the Constitutional Court for a decision which is still pending.

Indecent assault carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in jail while rape carries a possible life sentence.